After landing, follow the "Foreigners" lane, passport ready; arrival cards are electronic at most ports now.
E-gates: holders of Chinese e-passports and some foreign passports can use self-service lanes with fingerprint and facial recognition. First-time arrivals still use manual lanes and give fingerprints.
Common border questions: purpose (tourism/business/visiting), where staying, how long. Answer honestly; showing return tickets and hotel bookings helps.
Declaration: declare items worth over RMB 5,000, plants and animal products, and cash over USD 5,000 equivalent. Red channel declares; green channel is for nothing to declare.
Tip: photograph your entry stamp - hotels, SIM cards and currency exchange may ask for it; your stay counts from the stamp date.
